Zechariah Symmes (1707 - 1793)

Born 1 Sep 1707 in Charlestown, Middlesex, Province of Massachusetts Bay

Ancestors

Husband of Judith (Eames) Symmes — married 29 Oct 1741 in Woburn, Middlesex, Province of Massachusetts Bay

Died 19 Apr 1793 at age 85 in Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States

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Biography

Zechariah Symmes was born in Charlestown, Massachusetts (now the southern part of Winchester), on September 1, 1707, the second child and second son of William Symmes and Ruth Convers[e].^[1][2][3]

On October 29, 1741, he married, in Woburn, Massachusetts, Judith Eames, eldest child of Deacon Samuel and Judith (Simonds) Eames of Woburn. They settled in Woburn, where Zechariah was a farmer living on land that had been part of the farm of his father, Mr. William Symmes, and his grandfather, Captain William Symmes. "The line between Woburn and Medford ran between his house and barn, his house being in Woburn, the barn in Medford." They had seven children, all born in Woburn:^[1][4]

1. Judith Symmes, born August 14, 1742; died young.^[1][5]
2. Zechariah Symmes, born October 1, 1744; married, February 1, 1773, Rebecca Tuttle.^[1][6][7]
3. Samuel Symmes, born October 20, 1746; married, April 20, 1771, Susanna Richardson; died September 11, 1816.^{[1][8][9][10]}
4. Judith Symmes, born February 13, 1749; married, November 16 (or May 15), 1773, Isaiah Dixon, of Cambridge.^{[1][11][12][13]}
5. Ruth Symmes, born May 5, 1751; died young.^[1][14]
6. Ruth Symmes, 2nd, born April 8, 1755; married, July 20, 1774, Thomas Prentice.^[1][15]
7. William Symmes, born September 1, 1757; married, March 30, 1784, Mary Mallet.^[1][16][17]

Zechariah Symmes died in Woburn on April 19, 1793, at the age of 85. He was buried April 21, in the First Burial Ground in Woburn. His wife died two years later on July 24, 1795.^[1][18][19]

His gravestone reads:^[20]

SACRED

to

the memory of

MR. ZACHRIAH

SYMMES who died

April 19^th 1793

Æt. 86

Blessed are the dead

that die in the Lord

Will

Zechariah Symmes's will, according to "Vinton":^[1]

His will is dated 24 January 1791; proved June 1793. He and his wife Judith, who joins in the will [I have examined perhaps hundreds of wills. In no other instance have I found a wife joining her husband in a will] bequeath to their sons Zechariah, Samuel and William, land in Tewksbury, Woburn (the Wood-Hill lot), Medford and elsewhere, "which we had by her father Ames^[21]" [This expression can refer only to a part of what the testator left, for a part came from his ancestors the Symmeses]. They also leave a legacy to their daughter Ruth Prentice and her children. A pew in Woburn meeting-house is also bequeathed; also cattle, hogs and farming utensils.^[1]

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.00 1.01 1.02 1.03 1.04 1.05 1.06 1.07 1.08 1.09 1.10 1.11} Vinton, John Adams. The Symmes Memorial. Boston: David Clapp & Son. 1873. Citing: 54. Zechariah Symmes Pages 40-41.
2. ↑ Wyman, Thomas Bellows. The Genealogies and Estates of Charlestown : In The County of Middlesex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts. [N-Z]. 1629-1818. Boston: David Clapp And Son, 1879. Citing: "SYMMES, William 17. ... m. Ruth Convers ... Issue.- ... ii. Zechariah, Sept. 1, 1707." Page 940.
3. ↑ "Find A Grave". Zachriah Symmes. Find A Grave: Memorial #57882004. Accessed 26 Sep 2017.
4. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FHVV-FXS : 13 July 2016), Zechariah Symmes and Judith Eames, 29 Oct 1741; citing Marriage, Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 859,998.
5. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F4V2-VFJ : 13 July 2016), Judith Symmes, 14 Aug 1742; citing Birth, Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 859,998.
6. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F4V2-K8N : 13 July 2016), Zechariah Symmes, 01 Oct 1744; citing Birth, Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 859,998.
7. ↑ "Massachusetts Marriages, 1695-1910," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FCWK-L2D : 4 December 2014), Zachariah Symmes and Rebecca Tuttle, 01 Feb 1773; citing reference ; FHL microfilm 496,864.
8. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:F4V2-KB5 : 13 July 2016), Samuel Symmes, 20 Oct 1746; citing Birth, Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 859,998.
9. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FHSD-34Q : 13 July 2016), Saml. Simes and Susannah Richardson, 20 Apr 1771; citing Marriage Notice, Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 761,394.
10. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FHXV-HZN : 13 July 2016), Samuel Symmes, 11 Sep 1816; citing Death, Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 859,998.
11. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F4V2-L9R : 13 July 2016), Judith Symmes, 13 Feb 1749; citing Birth, Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 859,998.
12. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FHVV-PV3 : 13 July 2016), Isaiah Dixon and Judith Symmes, 16 Nov 1773; citing Marriage, Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 859,998.
13. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FHSD-396 : 13 July 2016), Isaiah Dixon and Judith Simes, 15 May 1773; citing Marriage Notice, Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 761,394.
14. ↑ "Massachusetts Births and Christenings, 1639-1915," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FZ2W-52L : 4 December 2014), Ruth Symns, ; citing , ; FHL microfilm 0496841 IT 2.
15. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F4V2-GTL : 13 July 2016), Ruth Symmes, 08 Apr 1755; citing Birth, Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 859,998.
16. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/F4V2-PVL : 13 July 2016), William Symmes, 01 Sep 1757; citing Birth, Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 859,998.
17. ↑ "Massachusetts Marriages, 1695-1910," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FCWK-735 : 4 December 2014), William Symmes and Mary Mallet, 30 Mar 1784; citing reference ; FHL microfilm 496,864.
18. ↑ "Massachusetts, Town Clerk, Vital and Town Records, 1626-2001," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/FHXJ-YJF : 13 July 2016), Zechariah Symmes, 19 Apr 1793; citing Death, Woburn, Middlesex, Massachusetts, United States, , town clerk offices, Massachusetts; FHL microfilm 859,998.
19. ↑ Woburn Records: PART II. DEATHS. Citing: "SYMMES, Zachariah, s. of ____, April 19, 1793; 87 y." Page 186
20. ↑ Woburn Records: PART II. DEATHS. EPITAPHS, FIRST BURIAL-GROUND. Citing: "(265.) 'Sacred to the Memory of Mr. Zechariah Symmes who died April 19'th 1793 Æt. 86' 'Blessed are the dead that die in the Lord.' Zechariah Symmes, born Sept. 1, 1707, son of William (epitaph 198) and Ruth (Converse) Symmes (epitaph 185). (Vide Brook's History, Medford, 543.) Married Judith Eames, Oct. 29, 1741. She died July 24, 1795, aged 84. (Vide epitaph 10, Second Yard; Sewall's Woburn 610, also 575. Also Vinton's Symmes Memorial, Boston, 1873, pp. 40,41, for sketch of him.) '1793, April 19, Zach^r Symmes died, aged 86 years: 21'st Mr Symmes buried.' (S.Thompson's Diary.)"Page 55*
21. ↑ Vinton writes that Judith's maiden name, Eames, was later spelled "Ames, as pronounced."

See also:

• Johnson, Edward. Woburn Record of Births, Deaths and Marriages - From 1640 to 1873. Woburn, Mass: Drews, Cutler & Co., Steam Book and Job Printers, 1899.

• "The Symmes Memorial Online". http://symmes.org/Memorial. "(54) Zechariah Symmes". Accessed 26 Sep 2017.